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NEWS SPECIAL REPORT UK defies predictions of downturn Domestic overnight trips increased 9% last year to 124 million. Ian Taylor reports
Official figures for 2015 have confounded forecasts of weakening demand for domestic tourism and confirmed the sector can grow alongside rising demand for overseas holidays. Total UK domestic overnight
trips, including business travel and visiting friends and relatives, last year topped 124 million, more than 10 million up on 2014, an increase of 9%, according to the Great Britain Tourism Survey on behalf of VisitBritain and VisitEngland. Spending also rose 9% year
on year to £25 billion, £3 million more than was spent by overseas visitors to Britain in 2015. Bednight numbers were up 8%. The number of holidays taken in
England was up 7% to just under 44 million, two million more than the total number of overseas holidays from the UK in 2014. Spending on all trips in England hit a record £19.6 billion.
Predictions upturned This appears in stark contrast to analysts’ predictions that the UK domestic sector would struggle as overseas demand returned to the level it hit prior to the 2008 financial crisis – although it is
in line with expectations among industry leaders in the sector. Leisure market analyst Mintel
recently forecast domestic trips would “take a back seat as overseas trips rise”. Mintel’s Holiday Review UK 2016, published in February, noted: “Domestic holidays are on track for growth in 2015 after three consecutive years of decline.” However, it argued: “This rise is likely due to a rebound in the market after a particularly bad 2014 when domestic trips fell by 7.1% year on year.” Overall, Mintel predicted
“a downturn in the domestic market while overseas volume is forecast to rise by a significant amount”. It suggested: “Over the next five years, Mintel expects domestic trip volumes to fall as consumers travel overseas, taking advantage of the strong pound and cheaper air fares.” In fact, the 9% rise in domestic
overnight trips last year exactly matched the 9% increase in overseas holidays from the UK. What should also hearten the
sector is that the biggest increase was among young adults and the more affluent. Domestic travel among 16 to 24-year-olds was
£25bn
Amount spent by domestic tourists last year – £3bn more than by overseas visitors
up 13% on 2014 and up 17% among 25 to 34-year-olds. UK travel by members of better-off households in social classes AB was likewise up 17% year on year. The number of people taking
holidays in England was on a par with 2010 and 10% or four million above the figure of 2008. When the numbers spending
holidays with friends or relatives are added, the total number of UK domestic holidays last year reached 70 million. Of those taking a holiday
in England, 29 million took trips of one to three nights and 14.5 million four nights or more, resulting in an average stay of 3.35 nights. Overnight trips to the seaside rose 10% year on year to 19.4 million or 71 million nights, with seaside spending up 13%. Domestic trips to the
countryside rose 17% to almost 20 million.
Scotland takes a hit Scotland was the only region to a see a decline in overnight tourism, with numbers falling 4% to 12 million. But it posted the highest average spending per night, £79 against a UK average of £66, and highest spending per trip, £274 against a UK average of £200. Sally Balcombe, chief
executive of VisitEngland and VistBritain, described the figures as “hugely encouraging” and culture secretary John Whittingdale said: “The increase in visitors and spend is excellent news for our economy.” The Mintel report ended
positively: “The UK is the most popular repeat holiday destination”. England is the most popular, followed by Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France. Consumer research for Mintel found 70% of those taking a holiday in England took at least two English breaks in the year, double the rate for France (35%). › Mintel’s Holiday Review UK 2016 is available from
mintel.com › Comment, page 32
North York Moors National Park
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travelweekly.co.uk 14 April 2016
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PICTURE: VISITENGLAND/THOMAS HEATON
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